2000 unmanned level crossings: Railways Ministry requires Rs 25 billion for upgradation

The Ministry of Railways has estimated that Rs 25 billion will be required for up-gradation of around 2,000 unmanned level crossings across the country, including 550 vulnerable and 143 most vulnerable unmanned level crossings, it was learnt. According to the Railways Ministry data, a total of 291 train accidents occurred from 2014 to October 2017, where 106 people died and over 450 were injured. About 157 train accidents occurred at unmanned level crossings during the aforementioned period.
According to the Railways Ministry, there are a total of 3,389 level crossings on the entire railways system including 1,514 manned and 1,875 unmanned level crossings. A joint survey of vulnerable unmanned level crossings was conducted in collaboration with district government in 2013. As a result, 436 vulnerable and 75 most vulnerable unmanned level crossings were identified in Punjab, 45 and 30 in Sindh, 37 and 6 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 32 vulnerable and 32 most vulnerable unmanned level crossings were identified in Balochistan.
An amount of Rs 610 million was deposited by the government of Punjab for up-gradation of 75 vulnerable unmanned level crossings in 2014 and work on these level crossings has been completed.
The government of Punjab has further deposited Rs 1.23 billion for up-gradation of 150 vulnerable unmanned level crossings. An official said that the government of Sindh also released Rs 103 million to convert 15 unmanned level crossings into manned level crossings. Letters have been written to chief secretaries of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for providing required funding for up-gradation of these level crossings. The government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has committed to release Rs 177 million but no amount has been received so far.
The Pakistan Railways has also proposed to construct underpasses and flyovers at vulnerable level crossings on built, operate and transfer (BOT) basis with the help of the private sector.
The Railways Ministry quoting Railway Act, 1890, stated that provincial governments are required as per law and rules to provide funds to the railways to convert unmanned level crossings into manned ones. Under Railways Act, 1890, installations of gates at level crossings and expense of staff is the responsibility of the provincial governments, spokesperson of the Railways Ministry told Business Recorder.
The spokesperson said that the ministry has prepared short, medium and long term plans to control train accidents. Furthermore, PC-1 of a new project worth Rs 730 million has been submitted to the Planning Division for effective communication system. Under the project, provision of better communication (VHF radio) for improvement of communication between ground staff and locomotive crew would be ensured. Manned level crossings would be further upgraded with the provision of signals and tracking/monitoring of trains through GPS/location devices.
Automatic train protection (ATP) is an integral part of recently installed computer based interlocking (CBI) system over Lodhran-Shahdara by Bombardier technology consortium over PR locomotives. ATP devices have been installed in 15 locomotives.
Another pilot project has been launched with the help of NESCOM for provision of audiovisual warning to the road users (red and green with bell) and the train drivers, while approaching a level crossing. All level crossings on ML-1 (Karachi to Peshawar) will be rendered dysfunctional by providing underpass/flyover under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.